Coupling for electric circuits



Dec. 25, 1928.

H. R. SARGENT ET AL COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed May 10. 1927 ym t2 m 5 swim/t Pa @f fi mS w ,1] HOLD e n vd T n I Wk IILI v/ bPatented Dec. 25, 1928.

UETED STATES HOWARD R. SARGENT AND FRANK C. DE REAMER, OF BRIDGEPORT,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed May 10, 1927. Serial No. 190,323.

Our invention relates to coupling devices of the type especially adaptedfor use, for example, in connection with Christmas trees, vacuumcleaners, radio sets, and the like.

Heretofore. coupling devices of this sort have been made in which theconnection function is performed by one set of elements and the contactfunctions are performed by a differentset of elements, and our inventiondiffers from the prior art in that we use a pivoted spring which takespart in both functions.

Among the objects of the invention are the following:

To provide a coupling device, the receptacle element of which isprovided with a unit element in the form of a spring connector whichperforms the functions of both contact and connector element; to providea device of the foregoing character in which the element, the cap, andthe receptacle which receives the element are formed and constructed sothat the wire to which the coupling is fastened is clamped to theconnecto by the cap of the device. and that the cap. iinparts to theunit element a moment about a fulcrum in the receptacle; to provide acoupling device, the connector element of which engages both the wireand the plug contact, which unit element is in such operative relationto the cap of the device that the cap affects both its-contact functionand its connector function.

The invention will be more fully understood from the accompanyingspecification, claims and drawing, in which drawing Fig. 1 shows thedevice of the invention attached to a line. Fig. 2 shows the same deviceattached to the line with the cap lifted. Fig. 3 is a section throughthe axial plane of the device showing the cap, the body of thereccptacle and the connector unit elements, one

on each sideof the central axis of the receptacle and by means of whichconnection is made between the line wires and the plug. in this figurethe plug is shown in position about to be inserted into the receptacleto make contact with the spring unit elements. Fig. 4 shows one of theunit elements in perspective. Fig. 5 shows a bottom view of the cap ofthe device. Fig. .6 is an enlargement of the upper left hand sect-ion ofthe device as it is shown in Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that the body 2of the receptacle is provided with a pair of channels or plug chambersone on each side of the central axis of the device and of a form to receive each one of the unit elements, such as elements 3 or 4. As shownin Fig. 4, the spring element is folded so as to form'a heel 5, whichwhen in position as shown in Fig. 3 engages the edge 6 of the shelf 7which forms the lower boundary of the connection chamber in which thefolded portion of the spring is located, the edge serving as a fulcrumfor the unit element. It will be seen that there is provided a channel 8near the forward end of the upper section of the unit element forreceiving the wire with which the unit element is to be connected. Itwill also be observed, and as indicated more particularly in Fig. 3,that the channel 8 extends above the edge (3. 'lherefore, when the wire9 is clamped between, the cap 10 and the unit element, as indicated inFig. 3, a moment is created about the edge 6 with the result that thelower portion of the spring tends to rotate about the fulcrum. Asindicated in Figs. 3 and 4:, this lower portion of the spring is bowedso that when the cap is clamped its lower edge 12 is pressed against thewall of the receptacle. The result is that the portion 11 of the springis rendered substantial and resilient, thereby enabling the terminalelements 13 and 14 of the plug 15 to be inserted in the receptaclebetween the spring and the-central wall 16 of the receptacle, insuring agood electrical contact between the spring and its corresponding plugterminal. It will be seenthat the spacing between the cap 10 and theshield 7 is sufiicient to enable the spring to function as explainedabout the edge 6.

As indicated in Fig. 2, in order to establish an effective connectionbetween a two strand cableand the receptacle, all that is necessary isto make a short portion of the cable bare so as to enable the conductorsto be placed cachin contact with one of the springs. Therefore, by themore operation of clamping the cap in position, as for example by meansof a screw 17, an effective and substantial connection is insuredbetween the cable strands and their respective springs insuring at thesame time that an effective connection will result when the plug 15 isinserted in the receptacle and pressed home.

It will be understood that while we have illustrated and described theinvention in connection with a specific form of device, we do not wishto be limited to such specific construction, inasmuch as in view of thedisclosure variations ma obviously be made which do not. depart from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the claims herein.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In combination with a socket, a plug, means in'the socket for joininga wire with the plug through the socket, said means consisting of alever in the form of a spring pivoted in the socket, one arm of thelever serving to connect with the wire, the other end of the leverserving to connect with the plug and a cap for the socket for clampingthe wire against the spring and for producing a bias in the spring aboutthe pivot to maintain the said other arm of the lever in proper positionin the socket whereby the plug may be readily inserted and effectiveconnection insured in the socket.

2. In combination with a socket, a plug, means in the socket for joininga wire wit-h the plug through the socket. said means con sisting of alever in the form of a spring pivoted in the socket, one arm of thelever servin to connect with the wire, the other arm of the leverserving toconnect with the plug and a cap for the socket for clampingthe wire against the spring and for produc- 1 ing a bias in the springabout the pivot, said socket and spring being so formed and placed withrespect to each other that as a result of the bias one point of thespring along the said other arm engages the wall of the socket producingthereby a resilient contact member between two points of support therebyinsuring a substantial contact connection between the plug and the saidother arm.

In combination with a socket, a plug, means in the socket for engagingthe plug whereby connection may be extended from the plug to the socket,said means serving also for engaging a wire from which a supply ofcurrent may be drawn, said means being in the form of a spring lever,said lever being pivoted on a'fulcrum within the plug, and means forimparting a bias to the lever about the fulcrum and for maintaining thespring in proper position with re spect to the socket.

4.11 combination a line and a circuit coupling device having a plug anda socket receptacle, a cavity in the receptacle and a cap for thereceptacle, means for securing the cap to the receptacle, a section ofsaid cavity extending longitudinally of the socket for receiving theplug, a section of the cavity extending transverse the socket forreceiving the line, a spring for connecting the line and the plug, saidspring located in said cavity, a fulcrum in said cavity, said springbeing bent to form a seat for receiving the fulcrum'and in the form of alever,

to clamp the line and said seat beyond the fulcrum to thereby createa'biasing moment in the spring about the fulcrum and to press a point inthe forward part of the bowed arm against the wall of the plug cavitywhereby'when the plug is inserted in the socket it will pass between thebowed arm and the wall of the socket cavity nearest the central lonitudinal axis of the socket to insure an eflect-ive and resilientcontact between the plug and the bowed arm, the folded arm and capserving to effect a substantially resilient contact between the line andthe folded arm of the spring.

5. In a plug device, in combination, a receptacle, a spring element, anda cap forthe receptacle, said receptacle formed with a fulcrum, saidspring being mounted as a lever on said fulcrum, said lever being underthe control of said cap, said cap imparting to said lever a bias withrespect to said fulcrum.

6. In combination with a plug, a socket device for connecting electricapparatus and a wire whereby the apparatus may draw current from thewire, said plug having a contact terminal, said socket having a body ofinsulating material, a cavity within said body, one end of thecavity,forming a plug chamber for the device and the other end of thecavity serving as a connection chamber for the device, a spring in saidcavity in the form of a lever, said body having a fulcrum headprojecting in the cavity for said lever, one arm of the lever beinglocated in the plug chamber on one side of the fulcrum in position toengage the plug terminal when the latter is inserted in the plug chamberwhereby contact is madebctween the spring and the plug terminal and theother arm of the lever being located in the connection chamber on theother side of the fulcrum in position to engage the wire, a cap for thesocket serving as means for applying pressure to the connection arm ofthe lever to produce a biasing moment in the spring about the fulcrumfor maintaining the end of the lever in the plug chamber in properposition, the arms of the lever being dispo ed one transverse thedirection of the other.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this, 7th day of May,1927.

HOXVARD R. SARGEN'I. FRANK C. DE RE'AMER.

